JASON Crump has taken the early initiative in the Grand Prix series with victory in Saturday’s second round at Leszno in Poland.

The Australian has moved into a nine-point series lead as the only man to reach the final in both events so far. Reigning champion Nicki Pedersen was again outside the top four and left to strongly bemoan an exclusion in Heat 15 when he was judged to be the cause of a first-bend pile-up.

Pedersen rode into Grzegorz Walasek, who was inside him and ahead of him, going into the corner, which sent him spearing into the path of Emil Sayfutdinov – who was lucky to emerge unscathed from a heavy impact.

Crump headed home hero Tomasz Gollob, Andreas Jonsson and Greg Hancock in the final as previous series leader Fredrik Lindgren endured a miserable meeting, in stark contrast to his form across Europe this season.

Bees captain Chris Harris had to be content with five points, starting the meeting well but scoring just one from his last two rides, which cost him the chance of a shot at the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the debate over the number of top riders sitting out the British Elite League this season continues – with Hans Andersen admitting that he made a misjudgment over the winter.

The Dane, who finished last season with the Buildbase Bees, admits he has been short on racing, and the rumour mill suggests that his return to this country may not be far away.

Another who quit the domestic scene was former Bees skipper Scott Nicholls, who wanted to enhance his Grand Prix chances by lightening his workload. But the move has so far proved to be a disaster, and a score of just one point from Leszno will surely also have Nicholls contemplating his next move.